Page 61 of Every Single Vow
A laugh filters from my mouth, my head shaking at her scowl. “I meant a kiss, darlin. But I’d take a roadie anytime.”
“You would.” She rolls her eyes, but I see her small smile as she leans in to press a kiss to my lips.
Something I’ll never get tired of.
“That’s all I wanted.” I hold out the coffee.
“Thank you,” she whispers as she wraps her hand around the cup.
After taking a sip, she slides on her shades, preparing to leave me to drive while she falls asleep.
“Now.” I pull out onto the highway. “What’s your theory on Princess Diana?”
Dakota groans dramatically, her head dropping against the head rest in agony.
A smile spreads across my face because as much as she hates mornings, and probably me right now, I know she’ll humor me the entire way home.
It’s already dark by the time we make it back to the ranch. After unloading the horses and getting them settled, we drive the ATV over to Maddox and Ivy’s cabin to pick up Arizona who hitched a ride after leaving my aunt Penelope’s. Mom and dad were staying there until the farmhouse was finished. Which by the looks of it, it won’t be much longer.
When we pull to a stop, I feel Dakota take my hand in hers to stop me from getting out.
“Hey.” She tugs.
“Everything ok?” I wrap an around her shoulder.
“Everything is great.” She blushes. “I just…. this.” She points between us. “Happened. Finally.” She laughs. “And it’s wonderful. And perfect…”
I take her chin between my fingers. “And you’re not ready to tell.”
Her eyes soften. “I know how people will react. Don’t get me wrong, I know everyone we love will be on cloud nine. But I kind of just want to enjoy this without all the questions and fuss. We’ve only been in our little bubble for barely twenty-four hours. I’m not ready for it to pop.”
I lean in and place a kiss on her forehead. “If that’s what you want, I have no problem keeping you to myself.”
She laughs. “Especially with everything going on with Ari. Let’s just get through that, then we can let everyone know that I’m your girlfriend.”
“Wife,” I correct.
She waves a hand. “You know what I mean. We kind of went ass backwards.”
“But just so I can sleep at night.” I tuck a piece of hair behind her ear. “You want this?”
Her eyes search mine. “I’ve always wanted this.”
“Good.” I release her. “Let’s go get our girl.”
Chapter forty
Dakota
Ari sits in the front seat next to me, an ice cream cone perched in her hand. It was Sunday, and that meant we were indulging in somegirltime. After we checked in on the colts this morning, Cooper sent us away to enjoy a movie and ice cream while he helped Ryder get a plan for moving the herd. Apparently, they were starting the move tomorrow and it would take a few days to get all the cattle accounted for and sorted.
“I can’t believe you don’t like cookie dough,” I gasp as we pull out onto the highway that leads to the ranch.
“And I can’t believe you don’t like pineapple.”
“That’s a fruit. Not a dessert.” My finger twists the knob to turn up the radio.
I learned that Ari seems to favor Ty Myers. I was even secretly trying to find tickets to his next concert to surprise her with on her birthday. Which happened to be in two short weeks.
